Squatters in Merton must know that they are easily evicted or arrested at any time.
If you enter someone's property in Merton and live there without their consent and permission, you are squatting.
In most cases, squatting comes in as the last choice for someone who is homeless in Mitcham, Morden, or Wimbledon.
This option is a temporary measure if you are homeless as you will be evicted by the property owner in Merton and you may be arrested or fined.
If you lived in a property in Greater London after your tenancy or licence came to an end you are considered as a squatter.
You'd be committing a criminal offense if you're squatting in a residential property in Merton.
It will result in an arrest and if found guilty you will be:
Sent to prison in Merton for a maximum of six months
Up to £ 5,000 fined
The authorities aren't going to arrest you in Greater London if you:
Living on the property in Merton after your tenancy or you licence expired
Began living in the Greater London property genuinely thinking you were a tenant - for example where a fake letting agent rented you a property, they had no permission to
You are a traveller or gypsy encamping on an unauthorised site in Merton
A squatter in Merton can be easily and quickly evicted if:
The police in Greater London are not willing to arrest them
The landowner in Morden, Wimbledon, or Mitcham has no interest in seeking the assistance of the police
It's commercial premises in Merton you are living in
The Merton property owner may change the locks to the squatter's room(s) while the latter is away.
The owner can get a court order in Greater London if you or another squatter refuse to leave the property in Merton.
However, the usage of threats or being violent for evicting someone is not legalized.
It is necessary that the landowner drops the court documents at the front door or in the letter box at least during the 5 days preceding the court hearing in Greater London; however if you are squatting in commercial premises, this must be done 2 days prior to the court hearing.
These must be accompanied by a defence form and the details of the time and place of the court hearing.
You must challenge the owner's case, in the event that you're not squatting in Merton.
That can be done by returning the defence form to the court and going to the court hearing in Merton.
If you are squatting, the Greater London court will usually order you to vacate the property in Merton there and then.
If they don't leave, the owner can request bailiffs from the Greater London court to evict you.
Squatters in Morden, Mitcham, or Wimbledon are classified as homeless because they don't have permission to live where they are.
To take help, you can apply to the local council in Merton and request to help you as a homeless person.
The Greater London council should give you advice on finding somewhere to live in Merton if you are single ad homeless.
There are certain areas in Greater London with specialist services to provide emergency assistance to eliminate sleeping rough.
If you at risk, for instance if you have young children, or are pregnant, the Merton council may make emergency housing provisions for you.
However, local council will not be able to assist you in emergency or long-term housing in case you are restricted with residency or immigration status such as asylum seekers in Morden, Wimbledon, or Mitcham.
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